Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. HARRISON Filed April 25, 1944 May 15, 1945. I

MEANS FOR commune THE PACKAGING 0F BERRIES on THE LIKE y 1 1945- I s. HARRISON 2,376,138

MEANS FOR COMPLETING THE PACKAGING OF BERRIES OR THE LIKE Filed April- 25. 1944 s She ets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

F 34 641E l/ABB/SOM 3 7 ArmeA/EY May 15, 1945. v GSHARRISON 2,375,133

MEANS FOR COMPLETING THE PACKAGING OF BERRIES OR THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 15, 1945 r ,MEANsFon COMPLETING THE PACKAGING I or BERBIES on THE LIKE V Gale'liarrison, Ivanhoe, N. Application April 25, 1944, Serial No. 532,570

\ I 11 Claims. .(Cl. 226-19) ?his-inventionrelates to a new and improved for completing the packaging of berries the usual typ of boxes. 1

In my application, Serial No. 523,389, filed February 22, 1944, I haveshown and described one type of apparatus and process for completing the packaging of berry boxes or containers.

V In my Patent No. 2,318,483, issued May 4, 1943, I have disclosed means for what is knownin the trade as topping the boxes of berries after they ar brought in from the field to the packing house. After the topping operation is performed,

vit is necessary to apply a Cellophane cover over the top of the berries andv the box. to hold the berries in the box during shipment and distrinution. The above-mentioned application discloses a new type of cover and means for applying it to the top of the box. -Since inventing the subject matter of said application and working. with the structure disclosed therein, I have dis covered and developed an apparatus for speeding up the time involved in the application of the cover to the box. I have found, in working with the structure of said application, that when the berry boxes are somewhat warped, asv they occasionally are, a little time was lost in getting the boxes inserted on the topping, apparatus where the spreader pins are in permanently fixed position. After studying and watching the covering operation, I have discovered how to do it better and faster and with less skill on the part of the operator.

' it is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide means for completing the ackaging of berries which will overcome. the difficulties referred to and attain the advantages pointed out. v While attaining the principal object, I have found, as another object, that unskilled persons can be more quickly trained with my new and improved apparatus which is set forth in the annexed drawings, wherein: i

Figure 1 is a plan view of the base portion of my new apparatus, with the box in place on the 7 structure and the spreader fingers moved apart,

container. Each of th'e standards or spreader members 1 has its inside surface tapered outwardly for the greater part of its length from a point 8 to its top or apex 9, which tapered surfac generally conforms to the slant of the berry box. Pivoted to each of the spreader members I, by a pin I0, is a lever l I having avertically ex- I tending arm 12 and a horizontally extending arm 13. The arm l2 tapers inwardly as indicated by the line l4, and then upwardly at l5, terminating in a final taper 16, which portion extends a short distance I], above the apex 9 of the fixed spreader member I. As shownin Figures 2 and 4, the'upper portions terminating in the ends 9 and I6 are normally in contact so as to form, in effect, a unitary wedge surface which is adapted to be inserted between the body part of the box and the band top as will be later relerred t0.

The horizontal arm l3 extends inwardly toward the center and has a reduced end l8 adapted to fit into an annular recess, 19 formedbetween a pair of flanges 20 and 2| which are formed on a plunger 22 that extends downwardly through a sleeve or bushing 23 that is fastened as by welding to the base plate 6. The. outer extremity of the plunger 22 is threadedat 24 to receive an adlusting nut 25 and a lock nut 26. Positioned between the extremity 21 of the bushing 23 and the nut 25, is a washer 28 on which rests the end of acompression spring 29, the upper end of which engages the plate 6. It will be seen from Figure 4, that by adjusting the nuts 25 and 26, the space between the washer 28 and the end 21 of the bushing 23 may be regulated and thereby govern the distance which the plunger 22 can be moved and, consequently, the amount of movement of Figure 5 is a side view of the cap-and-stop-plate between the lines 5-5 of Figure 2, wherein the late is shown in dotted position.

In the various views, wherein like numbers refer to corresponding parts, I is the base of a topping apparatus having a vertically extend ng portion 2 having a stop 3 and carrying a topping lid 4 pivoted at 5.to the portion 2, all as disclosed in my patent and'app ication previously referred to. My present improvements are directed to the parts carried on the base portion of the apparatus.

Mounted on the base I, is a metal plate 6, preferably of steel treated to prevent which is held to the base I by screws 42. Fastened to the base plate 6, are four fixed standards or: spreader members I symmetrically spaced on ;the plate 6, on for each side of a berry box or the levers II is thereby regulated which, in turn, fixes the distance which the end l6 of the lever arm I2 is separated from the fixed spreader arm 1 at its end 9.

In practice, the apparatus is mounted on a table or bench through which the plunger 22, sleeve or bushing 23 and spring 29 project. The threaded end 24 of the plunger 22 is adapted to be engaged by a lever 3| pivoted at Hand operated by a foot treadle, not shown, thereby leaving both hands of the operator free to manipulate the box and the cover to be applied thereto.

Positioned within the confines of the fixed spreader arms I, and above the flange of the plunger 22, is a stop plate 33 having downwardly turned rim portions 34 which engage the base' plate 6, the stop plate 33 being fastened to the plate 6 as by screws 35 shown in dotted position in Figure 2. The plate 33 has rim orificesn36 be; tween the portions 34 for fitting over the lever I arms l3 as shown in broken lines Figures- 2 and 4. The plate 33 thus acts to cover the arms l3 and the end of the plunger 22, and also acts-as a stop and rest for the berry box.

As shown in Figure l, the box is in position between the fixed spreader arms I and the plunger flhas been moved upwardly to force the end portions 9 and I6 apart, leaving a space 31 to receive the flaps 38 of a cover 39 such as described in my application previously referred to. At this point, it may be mentioned that it is assumed that the box has been topped withberries by means of the topper lid 4 which is thrown back, as shown in Figure 3, all as explained in my Patent 2,318,483, and is now ready to receive the cover 39.

The cover 39 is applied as shown in Figure 3, by inserting the flaps 38 into the space 3 between the spreader arm ends 9 and I6.- As soon as the cover 39 is in place, as shown in Figure 3, the force is released from the lever 3| andthe spring 29 returns the plunger 22 to normal position, moving the arms l3 and 12 to cause theends 9and l6for a considerable distance-inwardly from their extremitiesto engage the flaps 3B of the cover 39. The packaging is then completed and the box is lifted from the apparatus. While it-is being lifted, it will be noted that there is a downward pull by the sprader fingers on the flaps 38, thereby holding the cover securely in 1 position over the top of the box so that when the box is finally removed, the outer band :40, which has been spread away from the body portion M .of the box, moves back substantially to normal position to grip the flaps 38.

It may be mentioned in passing that the-band around the top of the berry boxes, as new constructed, is a one-piece afiair, starting from the inside and going once around and then passing through to the outside at the junction of the two body strips, and making approximately 1% turns on the outside as indicated by reference to the left-hand side of Figure 1'. However, by my construction as described, the box is veryeasily pushed into the position shown in- Figure 1, whereby the cover flaps 38 are positioned between the body of the box and the adjacenteouter portion of the band. I i

As heretofore explained, the adjustment of the lift plunger 22 determines the distance which the upper ends 9 and I6 of the spreader members .are separated. Usually, this opening 31, which is somewhat exaggerated as shown in Figure 1, is preferably not over which I have found to be sufiicient to make an easy assembly of the cover 39 and which does not unduly stretch the box band between the band and box staples 43, so that when the box isremovedfrom the apparatus, the band will come back and grip the cover tabs 38 so that the cover is held securely in position on the box. During the withdrawing of the box from the spreader pins, these pins apply a pull on the tabs so the cover is held snugly down on the box at the time when the ends of the spreader members pass out of contact with the band.

What I claim is: 1. Means for completing the packaging of berries or thelike in a box having the usual type of rim," including the application to the box of a coverhaving ears or flaps adapted to be positioned between portions of the rim and the body of the box; said means including a base portion having'-- upwardly extending, substantially rigid guideand support members spaced, one for each base, a slidable plunger carried'by the bushing and terminating above-the base in an enlarged end having an annular recess to receive the ends of all of said inwardly projecting arms, means for adjusting the upward movement of the plunger when rorce'is applied thereto, as well as the movmn ent of said lever arms to determine the amount .of separation between the levers and their cooperative support members, means for returning the plunger to normal position after force is removed therefrom and for closing the lever arms onto the cover ears which havebeen inserted between the lever and their cooperative support members whereby when the box is removed, the cover ears are left in whatwere said separations v 2. Means for completing the packaging of berries or-the like as. set forth in claim 1, further defined in that said means for returning the plunger .to normal position is a spring which, after the plunger is returned to normal position,- applies a force to said arms causing the upper arms to press the ears of the cover against said support members and thereby apply a pulling strain on the ears while the box is being pulled bit the arms and cooperating supports,

3. Means for completing the packaging ofberries or the like asset forth in claim 1, further defined in that a plate is provided for covering the upper end of the plunger and cooperating horizontally positioned lever arms and also serving as a rest for the box.

4. Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like asset iorthin claim 1, further defined in that the plunger adjustment means comprises. a. threaded end on the plunger, a spring positioned around the hollow bushing, at least one nut onthe threaded end of the plunger, and at, least one washer between the nut and spring. I

5. Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like as set forth in claim 1-, further defined in that the guide and support members have considerable width to cover quite an area of the box sides, the supports tapering in conformity to the box taper so the sides of the box slide down on the taper when putting the box into topping position.

6. Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like as set forth in claim 1, further defined in that the upper end of each guide and support member, and the vertically extending arm of its cooperating lever, normally come together so as to form, in eifect, a single, relatively thin wedge for readily entering between the body of the box and the rim band.

'7. Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like ina box having a body and band'- type rim, said means including a topping appa ratus and a cover having ears for engaging the box; the topping apparatus comprising a base having a plurality of fixed guide and support members arranged on. the base to engage the sides of the box, and having their upper ends tapered away from the box, a bell-crank lever pivoted to each support member,-one arm of the lever extending upwardly alongside of-its support member and having its end tapered toward the taper on the support membenthe other arm of the lever extending over the base toward the center thereof, a bushing fastened to the base and extending downwardly therefrom, a plunger extending through the base and bushing and having an enlargedhead just above the base,- said head having an annular recess therein to receive the ends of said inwardly projecting lever arms, a spring mounted on the sleeve and acting on the plunger to normally force it downwardly and thereby hold the upper ends of the lever arms in engagement with their respective support members, whereby the box may be readily inserted in position between the support members for topping, means for operating the plunger to cause the ends of the lever arms to move the rim portion away from'the body of the box,

whereby ears on a cover may, after the topping operation has been performed, be passed between the separated portion of the rim and body of the box, and between the .lever'end and the support end, the ears being slidably gripped between the lever and support ends when said plunger-open ating means is released and the covered box is 4 withdrawn from the structure.

8. Means for completing the packaging of berries or the like in a box having a body and band-type rim, as set forth in claim 7, further defined in'that'a plate for seating the box is provided to go over the inwardly projecting lever arms and plunger end, and further defined in that means are provided for limiting the upward movement of the plunger so the rim of the box may not be unduly spread away from the body thereof.

port member, the ends of both the support,

member and said arm being tapered toward each other and adapted to pass between portions'of the rim and body of the box to spread them apart, the other arm of the lever extending inwardly over the base, means for acting on the inwardly projecting lever arms to move the upwardly extending arms away from their fixed supports to provide spaces for the easy insertion of the flaps of a cover, and means for returning the levers to normal position whereby the cover flaps are engaged by the fixed supports and the upwardly extending lever arms as and for the purpose described.

10. An apparatus for finishing the packaging of berries including the application of a cover to the berry box having a band-type rim, the cover having tabs, one for each side of the box, said apparatus including a base having vertically extending spreader members supported thereon for movement toward and from each other, the spreader members being arranged in pairs spaced on the base so as to receive the box between the spaced pairs of members, each pair of spreader members having their upper extremities normally meeting to form in effect a single, relatively sharp wedge adapted to readily slip between the body of the box and the outer band of the rim when the box is placed in topping and covering position Within the confines of the pairs of spreader members, means for moving the spreader members apartso the cover tabs may be inserted between the spreader members, means for closing the said members onto the tabs to securely pull the cover in place on the box while the box is being lifted from the members. 11. An apparatus I for finishing the packaging of berries as setforth in claim 10, further characterized in that the spreader members are arranged on the base so their wedge-shaped ends will pass between the body of the box and the outer band of the rim between the location of the staples on their respective sides of the box, and further characterized in that the tabs on the box cover have a GALE HARRISON.

width closely approaching I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,576,158. May 1 191 GALE HARRISON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 58, beginning with the words "Figure 5 is a" strike out all to and including "box 'or" in line 55, and insert the same before "container in line 1, same page and column; and that the Said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the rec- 0rd of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of August, A. D. 19MB.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

